Getting hit from all sides at the head of Vikas Marg

The Karkari Mor intersection on Vikas Marg is a commuter's nightmare . As five roads meet , fast moving streams of traffic mingle in a haphazard way.

| TNN | Updated: Feb 26, 2013, 05:15 IST

The Karkari Mor intersection on Vikas Marg is a commuter's nightmare . As five roads meet , fast moving streams of traffic mingle in a haphazard way. In the evening peak hours , the intersection clogs and the jam on Vikas Marg stretches for kilometres .
This used to be a normal crossroads for traffic between Laxmi Nagar and Hargobind Enclave , and Gagan Vihar and Patparganj . However , construction of another road - the Marginal Bund Roadhas made it asymmetric , resulting in longer signal cycles - four to seven minutes each - and disorderly traffic .

Now, crossing the signal in one cycle is a trial . Making sense of the many signals placed at various angles at this junction is another challenge . It's puzzling , and dangerous , when red and green lights are on simultaneously on a pole , for traffic headed in different directions .

"There are too many movements that must be coordinated simultaneously ," said a traffic police officer .

None of the arms of the intersection has proper stop lines or lane markings . There are no guide arrows and enforcement of traffic discipline is lax . At red lights , vehicles creep on till they block the central area .

A small traffic island on Vikas Marg in the direction of this intersection compels cross-weaving of traffic and lets those who do not want to wait at the red light turn left. This traffic meets vehicles descending from Marginal Bund Road at a right angle , which is dangerous . Drivers also use the gap between the pavement and the traffic island to climb the Bund Road .

Vehicles use a service lane from Preet Vihar that opens near the intersection to take a leftward U-turn and then climb the Marginal Bund Road towards the Geeta Colony Flyover , or travel left towards Gagan Vihar , or straight towards the intersection - all of these in direct conflict with traffic from other directions .

Vehicles from Bhartendu Harish Chandra Marg are also allowed to take a 45-degree rightward path after crossing the intersection and snake into Marginal Bund Road , crossing high-speed descending traffic .

"There has to be a re-look at the geometry of the junction ," said PK Sarkar , transport planning expert from the School of Planning and Architecture . "Traffic descending from the Marginal Bund Road should take a compulsory left without waiting at the intersection . This would disperse traffic and reduce the signal cycles ."

Similarly , traffic from Bhartendu Harish Chandra Marg should not be allowed to cross the intersection and climb the Marginal Bund Road , said Sarkar .

Sealing the exit of the Preet Vihar service lane , increasing the size of the traffic island on Vikas Marg and proper lane markings would also help , said other experts .

Police sources said they are exploring the option of a half clover-leaf at this intersection to ease traffic .

If you have similar traffic bottlenecks in your area, write to us at
indrani.basu@timesgroup.com with photographs.

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